Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-05
c.n.u, of schoo, children.

We publish ELSEWHERE
showing the school census, just taken'
for the year 1887, together with the
enumerations for 1886 and 1885. 1t
will he seen that there has been
creat increase OF children this year
over last. The total number OF school
children between and IL years OIL
age is 1857; and the total number Oh
all children under II years OF age Is
10. 949. 1t is difficult to say exactiy
what figure would be the correct null
tiplicand to use to determine the total
number of people in this city from
the school census. 1t has been found
to vary according to the peculiarities
of the population of communities.
The lowest is 5, and it runs from that
up to 81. In some exceptional COM
mupities it has been found to be only
Al. From the character OF the popu-
lation of Los Angeles perhaps =
would be the correct figure. There
fore the total number of school chill
dren between 8 and II years of age
being 7457, to multiply that number
by 6 would give us population OF
44,742. But this is manifestly less
than our eLtire population, as esti-
m ated a short time ago from the
water rate, which is considered by
some as a fair factor to arrive at an
approximation of the entire popula-
ton. But there is really no reliable
criterion by which to reach an exact
enumeration outside OF a thorough
house to house census OF the whole
city. In Stockton last year it was
found that the population was exactly
six times greater than the number OF
school children. But Stockton is
stable city. 1t has no large floating
population, nor is it, like Los Ange-
les, the center of attraction to a vast
influx OF new people, who generally
come. unburthened with children, TO
pave the way for permanent homes.
Hence it would probably be mislead-
ing TO take the same factor as null
tiplicand for Los Angeles as was
found to be correct for Stockton. And
with reference to the water-rate test,
it is not reliable here because great
number of families living along the
zanjas do not use the City Company's
water at all. Perhaps We would not
60 far wrong to take the highest fac
tor known to vital statisticians in
arriving at the whole number OF
people in a community, and multiply
the total number OF school children
by 81. This would give us popula-
ton OF 4S,4 1t is, of course, well
u Understood that in this estimate we
accept as accurate the census itself.
But there is always room for doubt
about census statistics. 1t is admitted
that they are more likely to be, from
the circumstances attending their
collection, under than over the true
figures. This is especially liable to
be the case in city like Los Ange-
les, where homes are spread over a
very wide extent OF territory, and
where new people are coming in so
ra pidly that they may be almost said
to form new encampments on the
the trail Of the census taker. 1t is
safe TO assume as accurate that our
city has population of at least 3d.
900 nd probably $1,000. That would
not call into question the faith Of the
Census Marshal. for no one, however
DESTROYS he might be to conscien-
tiously perform the duty, could, in
city which is actually growing with
the CELEBRITY Of Jonah's gourd, take a
census that would not fall below the
true mark.